minnesota historical and cultural grants workshop fy:2012
DESCRIPTION
PowerPoint Slides from the presentations that were done around the State of Minnesota which feature: the purpose of the grants program, recent legislative changes to the program and the new MHS Grants Portal.TRANSCRIPT
Successful Grant Projects in the New
BienniumMinnesota Historical and Cultural Grants
Background to legacy amendment
Experience from the last biennium
Programmatic changes for this biennium
Grant Proposal Review
Roll out of the new MHS Grants Portal
Opportunity for Q & A and any feedback
Today’s Agenda
Constitutional Amendment in 2008 “may be spent only for arts, arts education, arts
access and to preserve Minnesota’s history and cultural heritage.”
“The dedicated money under this section must supplement traditional sources of funding for these purposes and may not be used as a substitute.”
One of many programs funded was the Minnesota Historical & Cultural Grants
Guided by a citizen advisory committee
Legislative Background
Minnesota History Coalition◦ Council for Minnesota Archaeology◦ Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums◦ Minnesota Archaeological Society◦ Minnesota Digital Library◦ Minnesota Genealogical Society◦ Minnesota Historical Society◦ Minnesota History Advocates for Research◦ Minnesota’s Historic Northwest◦ Preservation Alliance of Minnesota
History Community Response
Transparent, Accountable Legacy – an enduring value to the public Competitive Project based Projects meet professional history criteria Clear need and rationale Measurable outcomes Sustainable, “no tails”
Expectations Background
Enthusiastic Response◦ 882 applications in 13 months◦ 474 funded (54%)◦ At least one awarded in each county
History report held up as an example
Biennial Final Report Completion Rate: 96%
Results in MHCG
Increased funding Completion dates New HRAC New deadlines Mandatory pre-application New MHS Grants Portal powered by Fluxx
Changes for Second Biennium
FY 2010-2011 (immediate past)◦ ACHF: $93 million◦ History: $22 million (23.7% of ACHF)
◦ MHCG: $6.75 million (30.7% of history, 7.3% of ACHF)
FY 2012-2013 (current)◦ ACHF: $105.3 million (13.2% )
◦ History: $24.1 million (9.5% , 22.9% of ACHF)
◦ MHCG: $10.5 million (55.6% , 43.6% of history, 9.9% of ACHF)
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/?id=6&doctype=Chapter&year=2011&type=1
Change: Funding
Change: Completion DatesFiscal Year Spent By Historic
PreservationPart of Federal Project
July 1, 2011 June 30, 2013 June 30, 2015 Federal End Date
July 1, 2012 June 30, 2014 June 30, 2015 Federal End Date
Follows the 2009 language New solicitation Self-nominations due September 9
◦ Letter of interest◦ Brief resume◦ References
◦ Grants Office Historic Resources Advisory Committee Minnesota Historical Society 345 Kellogg Blvd. W. St. Paul, MN 55102 or [email protected]
Change: HRAC
Based on usage in first biennium Fast Track:
◦ September 16, 2011◦ October 21, 2011◦ January 13, 2012◦ February 17, 2012◦ March 23, 2012◦ June 15, 2012
Mid-, Large-Size, and Partnerships◦ Mandatory pre-application: October 7◦ Final application: November 18
Change: Deadlines
Grant Proposal Review
What are you doing? How are you doing it? What do you want to accomplish/what are
your goals? Be as specific as the space allows.
(~3200 words)
Project Description
Why are you doing this project?◦ Consumer Demand◦ Presence in a report or plan◦ Timeliness (often, anniversaries)◦ Meet a standard◦ Complement or update preexisting historic
resources
Need and Rationale
Be specific◦ Sequence of work◦ Time needed to complete each step
Is there enough time allotted for each task?◦ Do the math! For example, how many objects can
you realistically get cataloged in an hour or a day? Try doing a test.
Did you allow time to evaluate your project?◦ Do a survey, for example, to measure your
outcomes.
Work Plan and Timetable
MHS Executive Council/Committee has to approve all grants. Take this into consideration for your project start date.
Fast Track: roughly 45 days after deadline Mid-, Large, and Partnership 5 months
after pre-application deadline ◦ Letters informing you that you received a grant go
out a day or two after they meet. It will still be at least a month after that before you receive money.
◦ And it could be even longer if you are slow getting your paperwork back in.
Work Plan and Timetable
Who is going to work on the project?◦ Regular staff? Full-time or part-time?—be sure to
state that.◦ Volunteers?◦ Consultant(s) or other hired worker(s)?
What are the qualifications for the tasks that each person will be performing?
If you are hiring a consultant or worker(s), how do you plan to recruit them? Or, if you already have someone in mind, how did you decide on them?
Project Personnel
How will we know if your project was successful?◦ Did you complete your project? Did you reach your
stated goals? Did you accomplish what you wanted to?
SMART success:◦ Specific – to your project.◦ Measureable – accurate and complete.◦ Actionable – helps correct or validate decisions.◦ Relevant – can’t measure everything.◦ Timely – have data when you need it.
Outputs let you quantify your success. Outcomes let you qualify your success.
Evaluation – Measuring Success
Outputs will support your project goals. Outputs are usually easy to measure – it’s
counting widgets!◦ How many objects did you catalog?◦ What percentage of your collection did you
inventory?◦ How many oral history interviews did you
conduct?◦ How many people came to your program?◦ Does it or doesn’t it meet Secretary of the Interior
Standards?
Evaluation – Measuring Outputs
An outcome is a change in knowledge, behavior, or status◦ A simple example: How many people took your
genealogy class is an output; how many people actually learned to trace their family tree is an outcome.
Don’t just assert something, substantiate it. Call the Grants Office for help if you get
stuck on how to measure outcomes: 651-259-3467
Evaluation – Measuring Outcomes
Enduring Value:◦ What “legacy” does this project provide for future
generations? ◦ What outcomes or results will continue after the
project is completed? Sustainability:
◦ Are there ongoing costs to sustain the project after the end of the grant period and can you pay for them?
◦ Are there continuing staffing needs and can you maintain them?
◦ Are there yearly fees or maintenance contracts and can you pay for those?
Enduring Value & Sustainability
Project Budget◦ Line items in the budget detail costs of goods or
services.◦ Articulate the budget for reviewers to understand
your project.◦ Don’t use vague descriptions such as “supplies.”◦ Don’t forget to fill out the bottom section
describing how you came up with those figures. Did you comparison shop? Is there a state or local contract you need to follow?
Budget
Optional Matching Funds◦ Don’t forget to include your time, other staff time,
and volunteer time working on the project.◦ On the Final Report – don’t forget to send in
documentation of match. No documentation = doesn’t count.
Budget
Financials for non-government entities with projects over $25,000.◦ YES: 990, 990-EZ, Audit, Year End Financial Report◦ NO: 990-N, Budget, Bank Statement, Balance
Sheet Category-specific requirements:
◦ Be sure to READ THE GUIDELINES!◦ Example: Historic Properties require a Scope of
Work form and photographs.◦ Example: Digitization requires metadata samples.
Not including required material can jeopardize your application.
Required Attachments
Projects…◦ are undertakings that require detailed planning ◦ are designed to accomplish prioritized goals or objectives◦ have a purpose that supports the applicant's mission ◦ have a distinct beginning, and end with a product
Fit more than one category? Split into phases. One or two sentence answers are insufficient.
Remember, this is a competitive grant program. Indirect costs are NOT allowed. Do not hire a consultant, enter into a contract, or
make purchases before receiving your “ok to proceed” letter.
General Tips
MHS Grants PortalInstructions Online:
http://bit.ly/nIRAur
MHS Grants Portal
MHS Grants Portal
MHS Grants Portal
MHS Grants Portal
MHS Grants Portal
MHCG Manual:◦ www.mnhs.org/legacygrants
MHS Grants Portal◦ grants.mnhs.org
MHCG General Questions:◦ [email protected]◦ 651-259-3467
Ready reference links
Feedback: Like
Feedback: Please Improve
Please stick to global questions of broad interest to whole group
Staff will stay to answer project specific questions after the presentation
General Q & A
David Grabitske, oral history, interpretation, publications◦ 651-259-3460, [email protected]
Melinda Hutchinson, program questions, museum curation◦ 651-259-3459, [email protected]
Joe Hoover, digitization, technology and the web◦ 651-259-3461, [email protected]
John Fulton, film and libraries◦ 651-259-3467, [email protected]
Bob Herskovitz, museum environments, conservation◦ 651-259-3465, [email protected]
Natascha Wiener, historical architect◦ 651-259-3462, [email protected]
Initial Help
